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More than One-Third of Americans Think Gays Can Be "Cured," Study Says

More than One-Third of Americans Think Gays Can Be "Cured," Study Says

About 36 percent of the American public believes that if they try
hard enough, gay people can turn straight, according to data from the
Pew Research Center released on Tuesday.

The research reflects polling conducted in 2012, and as shocking as
the numbers seem, the nation has actually eased in this belief as LGBT
tolerance has grown. Six years ago, 39 percent of the population claimed
that gays could change their orientation — in 2003, an equal number of
people believed that gays could and could not switch to the straight
side.

Perhaps even more telling, just 51 percent of the country believes
that homosexuals cannot change their preferences, meaning that nearly
half the population thinks there is at least a slight chance that
sexuality is reprogrammable.

These numbers reflect the vast amount of misinformation that has long
plagued the homosexual community, even as so-called “conversion
therapy” has been proven effective time and time again.

As far back as 1998, the American Psychological Association (APA)
came out against attempting to convert gay people, claiming that
societal judgment and pressure, not homosexuality, was the true threat
to the LBGT community.

The report read “The potential risks of reparative therapy are great,
including depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior, since
therapist alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may
reinforce self-hatred already experienced by the patient.”

In 2009, an APA analysis of current research revealed that little
evidence exists to support conversion therapy, despite unfounded
promises made by religious groups who condemn homosexuals.

The latest report stated "These studies show that enduring change to an individual's sexual orientation is uncommon," and cited treatment side effects like "loss of sexual feeling, depression, suicidality and anxiety.”

Gay conversion has grown so unpopular that states are now lining up
to bar the practice. California led the way, and just Monday, New Jersey
Governor Chris Christie signed a measure to ban it from his state.
Washington may be next, as State Rep. Marko Liias is pushing for a
similar bill.

It is saying their sexuality is a natural occurrence because we are not the only species that does it.

Quoting billsfan1104:

You are still comparing gays to animals.

Quoting Clairwil:

Quoting billsfan1104:

Quoting impostagothkat:

I feel bad for
the lgbt community. Being gay has been around since time began and
animals have also been shown to be gay. Uhh I am at a loss for words
with issues like this

Why do you compare Gays to animals???? Gays are
not animals and should not be compared to them. Guess what, animals
lick their assholes and humans do not(at least 99% of them). So stop
comparing them to animals.

She didn't say gays are like animals.

She said there are gay animals.

For example, giraffes:

Male giraffes have been observed to engage in remarkably high frequencies of
homosexual behavior. After aggressive "necking", it is common for two
male giraffes to caress and court each other, leading up to mounting and
climax. Such interactions between males have been found to be more
frequent than heterosexual coupling. In one study, up to 94% of observed mounting incidents took place
between two males. The proportion of same sex activities varied between
30 and 75%, and at any given time one in twenty males were engaged in
non-combative necking behavior with another male.

I had a class in college which covered "being gay". It brushed up on some women may chose to be gay after a negative experience with a man, for example, because of rape or domestic violence because women are more emotional and associate certain life experiences with intimacy. However the class mostly covered the inherent biological response to sexual attraction. Sure some people may be able to deny their natural attraction but really, why should they? Because the Bible says so? I refuse to believe in a God who makes someone "wrong" just to test his/her dedication to The Lord. The God I believe in judges people on their whole selves not just on the gender they have intercourse with.

Quoting LaBuenaVida:

I believe it is a choice, and yes, you can make a choice not to be gay if you do not want to be.

So sad that some people just don't get it. It's not a choice, it's not a lifestyle, it's LIFE. Some people are just born that way and there is nothing wrong with them. God doesn't make mistakes and gay people are born just as perfect as heterosexuals.

I agree....But I am pretty sure my mom has prayed for me NOT to be gay and here I am, still gay. Why would anyone choose to be gay? It is a very hard road. Most gay people I know wish theyd been born straight. But, it is what it is.

I don't think most people choose to be gay. I think some choose it after bad experiences or something of the like. But, of all ways to "rebel" against societal "norms," why would one choose a way that would bring ridicule from so many?

Some choose the gay lifestyle, others do not. Free will & temptation invites immorality if the person surrenders to impure thoughts & an attraction for the same sex. Social issues & environment can lead to homosexuality. Generational sins cause bondage, a person feeling trapped into a particular lifestyle. There are many reasons why a person is gay. Nothing is impossible for God. He desires to heal sin but he can only work with the person according to free will~

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